The company, which gets the bulk of its sales from dental
devices and the rest from veterinary and rehabilitation
supplies, said fourth-quarter sales were hit by weak digital
x-ray sales in its dental unit.

"While it's true that digital x-ray sales benefitted from a
special promotion in last year's fourth quarter and from a more
limited promotion in this year's third quarter, we're
nonetheless disappointed by this quarter's performance," board
chairman Peter Frechette said in a conference call.

Patterson will announce changes in its digital radiography
promotional programs over the coming weeks, Frechette added.

Frechette was filling in for Patterson's Chief Executive
James Wiltz, who is recuperating from surgery.

Patterson shares, which fell $1.87 to a low of $32.52,
recovered slightly and were down $1.36 at $33.03 in morning
trade on Nasdaq.

The company competes with Dentsply International Inc
(XRAY.O: Quotazione), Henry Schein Inc (HSIC.O: Quotazione) and others in the dental
equipment space.

For the fourth quarter ended April 26, Patterson's net
income rose 5 percent to $63.2 million, or 51 cents a share.
Last year, it earned $59.9 million, or 44 cents a share.
Continua...